We know how to test software and products and services. Even business processes. But can we test organisations?

1. IS YOUR ORGANISATION
FIT FOR PURPOSE?
applying software testing to organisations
Mike Sutton@SSQTB.
Malaga. 2017

2. Startup Founder. Partner & Practitioner
“I help technology companies become more
effective at meeting their business goals by applying
simple and effective tools to reduce risk, increase
joy, create knowledge and get good stuff shipped.”
23 11 ~200 ~2200
years in
tech
years as a
coach
teams
helped
people
supported
Helping teams and individuals
build resilience, their own good
habits and responsibly own their
working process
Helping organisational leaders
develop modern, human centric
strategies for knowledge work
based industries
Spark Communities
of Learning
Advise management
teams and executives
Mentor agile teams and
their support structures
I help to bring focus on the need
for continuos learning within and
outside practice. For
competence and joyful fulfilment
vement Partner
ations become more effective in
s by applying simple and effective
ase value and create knowledge -
open and joyful collaboration.
tive in
fective
edge -
n.
ement Partner
ions become more effective in
by applying simple and effective
se value and create knowledge -
pen and joyful collaboration.
Mike Sutton
Agile Coach and Improvement Partner
“I help technology organisations become more effective in
meeting their business goals by applying simple and effective
ools - that reduce risk, increase value and create knowledge -
and by nurturing a culture of open and joyful collaboration.
Mike Sutton
Agile Coach and Improvement Partner
“I help technology organisations become more effective in
meeting their business goals by applying simple and effective
tools - that reduce risk, increase value and create knowledge -
and by nurturing a culture of open and joyful collaboration.
Mike Sutton
Agile Coach and Improvement Partner
“I help technology organisations become more effective in
meeting their business goals by applying simple and effective
tools - that reduce risk, increase value and create knowledge -
and by nurturing a culture of open and joyful collaboration.
Sutton
Coach and Improvement Partner
p technology organisations become more effective in
g their business goals by applying simple and effective
hat reduce risk, increase value and create knowledge -
nurturing a culture of open and joyful collaboration.

3. WHAT NOW?
Leave inspired.
Discover a simple 7 step
approach to testing your
own organisation
Explain the elements
of the approachDescribe the concept of
Testing Your
Organisation
Feel provoked

4. AS AN EMPLOYEE, I NEED TO BE PAID EVERY
MONTH, SO I CAN MEET MY LIVING COSTS

5. WE PUT A LOT OF ‘TRUST’
IN ORGANISATIONS BASED
ON VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE
We assume someone else
has checked them out
We hope they
will be ok

6. WE ALREADY TEST
SOFTWARE, PRODUCTS, SERVICES
AND BUSINESS PROCESSES.
WHY NOT ORGANISATIONS?
Mystery Shoppers Software testing
Crash Test Dummies Failure testing

7. SOFTWARE PRODUCTS
AND ORGANISATIONS
ARE REALLY SIMILAR
Have Users
Exhibit Testable Behaviours
Designed for a Purpose
Componentised
Make Assertions
Have Stakeholders Have Context
Malfunction

8. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE
OF YOUR ORGANISATION?
What does it aim to do? What does it say it does?
What does it actually do? What do its observers
perceive it does??How can you check it does
what it says it does?

9. WHO ARE YOUR
ORGANISATION’S
USERS?
Who is it useful to?

10. IN WHAT WAYS DO ITS USERS
NEED YOUR ORGANISATION
TO BE USEFUL
How is it useful to them? Under what context?

11. HOW GOOD DOES YOUR
ORGANISATION
HAVE TO BE?
What are the users willing to tolerate?
What
standards is
it held to?
What
standards does
it hold itself to?

12. WHAT ASSERTIONS DOES
YOUR ORGANISATION
MAKE?What statements
of fact or belief
does your
organisation make
Are they
reasonable?
Are they valid?

13. EVERY EVENT IS A TEST
CASE AND EVERY DAY IS
REGRESSION TESTING
Human Systems Tested Daily Bugs emerge
Continuous
stream of
opportunity
Risks and
uncertainty are
better managed

14. AN ORGANISATION
TESTING APPROACH

15. 1. UNDERSTAND YOUR CONTEXT
example:
We build communication network solutions for enterprises and retail consumers
We are in a highly competitive space with intense competition for both market share and talent.
Our greatest competition comes from smaller but more responsive players in South East Asia
We work with specialist partners who manufacture components for our hard ware devices.
Our products are subject to multiple sets of moderate to very strict regulatory control.
What do you do? Who are you doing it with? What is the nature of the landscape?

16. 2. DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE
example:
Our purpose is to create create 100% growth for our shareholders within 3 years
And be rated #1 Place to Work by > 90% of our Employees by December 2018
And consistently have a Net Promoter Score of at least +50
And Make It Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic,Time Related

17. 3. DISCOVER YOUR USERS
example:
Our employees want a safe and fair place to work, that will help them grow.
Our suppliers want a partner who pays them on time and offers them opportunities to
improve their business.
Our Customers want the reliable products and solutions and responsive after-sales
support.
Who they are and what they want from you.
(ps. validate both the users - that you have them, and their needs - that they have them!)

18. 4. EMERGE YOUR ASSERTIONS
example:
We provide a fair environment for our employees to learn and grow
We pay our suppliers on time and give them feedback on how to improve the chain.
We have the lowest prices in the market for the products we sell
We do not spy on our employees
We do not tolerate harassment of any kind of our employees
What statements are you making about users’ needs and the purpose?
(ps. validate that they are fair and reasonable)

19. 5. DEVISE YOUR TESTS
Feature: My employer provides a fair environment for employees to learn and grow
Scenario: Established employees can attend conferences
Given I am an established employee of company X
And I want to attend Useful Conference Y
And there are no project limitations
When I request sponsorship to from my manager
Then sponsorship is be granted.
What tests can validate each assertion?
(ps. these must be created from the users perspective)

20. 6. PLAN, EXECUTE AND TRACK YOUR TESTS
Feature: My employer provides a fair environment for
employees to learn and grow
Scenario: Established employees can attend conferences
Given I am an established employee of company X
And I want to attend Useful Conference Y
And there are no project limitations
When I request sponsorship to from my manager
Then sponsorship is be granted.
What do you need, who will run them, what happens if they ‘fail’
Mike will apply to attend SSQTB
by March 15th.
He will make sure:
- there is availability
- there is no critical project work
Jose to AgileTD
(Dec 2016)
Suzanna to QCon
(Mar 2016)

21. 7. MAINTAIN YOUR TESTSImprovement is not a one time deal - iterate.
Retrospect, review, refactor, retire, renew, repeat regularly
(ok - I ran out of ‘R’s).

22. WHAT NEXT?
Start the conversation at work
- ask questions, seek answers
Create your own
reasonable assertions
about your organisation
Whatever you do
Do not Do Nothing.
Start the conversations here - ask
questions, share stories
Expect more from the
world of work
Join the movement!
https://improvework.slack.com/

23. THANK YOUI’m doing a workshop on
how to practically test your
organisation.
Join me. I’ll show you how.
@mhsutton
http://mhsutton.me